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How many have experienced kickback while using a push stick?

How many have experienced kickback while feeding using direct hand(finger) control?

How many have never experienced kickback while feeding using direct hand(finger) control?

All questions assume NO riving knife.


Just wondering if my experience is 'typical' or not.




And yes I am inferring a contributing detail.

I have experienced all. Rarely, over 45 years, and all without a riffing knife/splitter, MTM in my TS, as a few months ago, no problems. It was do to wood tension on ripping and one time sharp full kerf blade, sharp, a Fraud rip blade, ripping 6/4 on a 1HP TB saw, lack of power. Wood tension played a part in it also I am guessing. A push stick in all would not have help with feed, but did control things.
Once on a band saw, no kick back but do to wood tension on a a 5ft white oak 3/4" board, good/sharp blade shut, it down.

JPG wrote:How many have experienced kickback while using a push stick?

How many have experienced kickback while feeding using direct hand(finger) control?

How many have never experienced kickback while feeding using direct hand(finger) control?

All questions assume NO riving knife.


Just wondering if my experience is 'typical' or not.




And yes I am inferring a contributing detail.

Do you consider the upper saw guard a riving knife?

I have never had a kick back with or with out the upper saw guard on the SS or my PM2000 table saw with or with out a push stick. I typically do not use a push stick unless it is absolutely necessary. Paying attention to proper technique is the answer.

Have I ever had a bad kick back. YES! When I was working at my Grandfathers/Uncles lumber company in the late '60's. I was in my early 20's. I was using a table saw to cut a stop groove in a piece of stock. I did not hit the start point so I backed up the piece. BAM, screwed up three fingers. You can see the damage to the index finger. The second one was was cut off at the first knuckle. The third one had the tendon severed on the back and the finger nail removed. They all look a bit weird today but they all work.

I've experienced kickback on both a bench top and my Mk 5 500. Never hurt but did put a 2x4 through the garage wall once. Last time was with the MK 5 500 and now I ALWAYS use my upper saw guard and have never had one with it in place.

An upper guard would indeed be considered a splitter at least and equivalent to a riving knife in the context of the thread subject.

JPG, it think you know all the answers to your questions. You want a responses of our experiences. Then you are going to make your point.

JPG wrote:An upper guard would indeed be considered a splitter at least and equivalent to a riving knife in the context of the thread subject.

OK, so I go back to my statement. Proper technique and proper training prevents massive kick backs. If you have a kick back YOU have done something wrong. Yes miss alignment of your machine can cause it but my contention is that with a bit of miss alignment will not cause kick back with proper technique and paying attention with what you are doing.

The onslot ie coming.

Actually the 'purpose' is for me to determine just how contrary I am.

I do have 'opinion' re the subject.

I have likely been lucky as well so far!

jsburger wrote:

JPG wrote:An upper guard would indeed be considered a splitter at least and equivalent to a riving knife in the context of the thread subject.

OK, so I go back to my statement. Proper technique and proper training prevents massive kick backs. If you have a kick back YOU have done something wrong. Yes miss alignment of your machine can cause it but my contention is that with a bit of miss alignment will not cause kick back with proper technique and paying attention with what you are doing.

The onslot ie coming.

I totally agree JS by my experiences. None on a SS table saw set up, since I dont use them for that. In High School Wood Shop class The walls were hollow block, there was a piece of wood stuck in one, about 15ft from the back of the TS, Instructor said kick back, dont ever forget it. Gave us the possible causes, this one came from a kid doing a miter cross cut, and using the fence as a width guide.

I had kickback years ago ripping a long board on a bench top saw - it had a crappy safety guard that I left off. I knew when I was making the cut that I was pushing it, so stayed to the side - cost me a patio door, but I was okay. Lesson learned. With the SS, I'd say I always use the upper guard, with the exception of some minor crosscuts. I've considered getting the riving knife to make non-through just safer.